The most basic rules of tennis govern how to play a point and how to determine the winner of that point. While the official U.S. Tennis Association rules are more than 30 pages long, the guidelines for the points themselves are comparatively simple. Both sides need to know the ways points are contested in order to achieve a fair and entertaining match.
Serving
Each point begins with a serve. The server stands on one side of the court and must hit the ball over the net into the service box, or on the line of the service box, on the opposite side of the court. The server has two chances, or "faults," to hit the ball in play. If he can't do so, a point is awarded to the receiver. If the ball is served into play, the point is contested by the players.
Court of Play
After the service, the court of play extends from the net to the baseline, and between the inner lines of the alleys in singles play. For doubles, the alleys are also in play. If a ball lands on any part of a boundary line, it's still in play. Once a ball lands outside a boundary, the person who hit that ball loses the point and a new point is started with a new serve. If the ball hits the net, the person who hit the ball loses the point. However, if the ball strikes the top of the net and bounces over within the boundary lines, it's still in play. If any part of a player's body touches the ball, that player loses the point.
Bounces and Swings
The ball may only bounce once before you have to hit it back. If it bounces more than once, the receiver of the ball loses the point. The first bounce must occur within the boundary lines, but the second bounce can land anywhere. A player has one swing to hit the ball. If the ball is struck twice by one player before the other player can hit it, the person who struck it twice loses the point. The only exception is if the ball "double hits" the strings in one continuous motion. In that case, the ball is still live. Players can't carry the ball on the strings of the racket. It must be struck in one motion.
Scoring
Players start out with love, which means 0. The points are named 15, 30, 40 and game. A player who has 40 then wins a point will win the game, unless the score was tied 40-40. Then the advantage goes to the player in the lead. A game must be won by two points in tennis. Sets are contested to six games and must also be won by two games.
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